Trans woman arrested for washing her hands in a women's bathroom

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/04/trans-woman-arrested-for-washing-her-hands-in-a-womens-bathroom/?_gl=1*1cytg2d*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTc0NDYzMDc1Ny4xNzQzNjEwMjc0*_ga_V18NBPRHD7*MTc0MzYxMDI3MS4xLjAuMTc0MzYxMDI3MS42MC4wLjA.

By Molly Sprayregen (2 April 2025)

A 20-year-old trans woman was arrested at the Florida state Capitol for washing her hands in a women's restroom in protest of the state's anti-trans bathroom law. It may be the first arrest since the law passed in 2023.

Marcy Rheintgen never thought the police would actually arrest her, which is why she informed Florida lawmakers of her plan to enter the state's Capitol and use the restroom, even including a photo of herself so they knew who to look for.

"I know that you know in your heart that this law is wrong and unjust," Rheintgen told the lawmakers, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "I know that you know in your heart that transgender people are human too, and you can't arrest us away."

"I know that you know that I have dignity. That's why I know that you won't arrest me."

Nevertheless, two cops met her at the restroom, but she decided to go in anyway. At first, they told her they would just give her a notice to appear before the judge. But they then reported she became "sassy" and indicated she may use the women's bathroom again, so they arrested her.

Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith slammed the state's "absurd and dangerous" law.

"The arrest of Marcy Rheintgen is not about safety," she said in a statement. "It's about cruelty, humiliation, and the deliberate erosion of human dignity."

Civil Disobedience in the name of civil rights.

We have gone back to the 1960s.

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on April 02, 2025, 11:21:58 AM"The arrest of Marcy Rheintgen is not about safety," she said in a statement. "It's about cruelty, humiliation, and the deliberate erosion of human dignity."

I think Marcy is an incredibly brave young woman. She let them know of her protest ahead of time, knowing full well the cops would meet her. And now having been arrested in one of the most hostile states and jailed in a men's prison!
I'm hopeful by now she has been released, but I just don't want to imagine the conditions of a florida jail!
This is what our world is again coming to, and I'm guessing it will take a lot more of us trans and LGBTQ folks arrested before anything changes.
I hope I'm wrong tho....

Quote from: persphone on April 02, 2025, 09:39:05 PMI'm hopeful by now she has been released, but I just don't want to imagine the conditions of a florida jail!

She was only held for 24 hours and then released with a date to appear in court.

Quote from: Lori Dee on April 02, 2025, 10:28:20 PMShe was only held for 24 hours and then released with a date to appear in court.

Thanks for the update! I'm truly glad to know she is out for now. Of course now I wonder if she could potentially be required to do jail time after the hearing?
Florida and Texas both seem to be scary places to live currently, although not the only ones.